Happy Tails Alerts

New LIVE Chat!

We are excited to launch our new live chat feature on our website! Have questions about our services? Wondering what the best method of transport is for your pet? Simply click the tab on the bottom right-hand side of our webpage to message us!

Responses will be received as quickly as possible during business hours (7 am - 4 pm MST Mon - Fri). After hours, the chat feature will leave us a message and we will respond the next working day.

Featured Testimonial

"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the outstanding services provided by Happy Tails Travel during the transportation of our beloved Sparky to his new home.

From our initial contact with Happy Tails Travel, Lizzie, our Pet Travel Specialist, demonstrated unparalleled professionalism and dedication. Lizzie's expertise and commitment were evident throughout the entire process, providing us with the confidence that Sparky was in the best possible hands. Her attention to detail, clear communication, and genuine care for animals made the entire experience seamless and stress-free."

Make sure to read the rest of Sparky's testimonial and our others here!

Why can my Pet not Travel to and from any Airport?

By: Bridget Monrad, R.N. | Aug 14, 2015


Pets are not allowed on just any flight. There are many limitations when it comes to live animal shipments, such as the restrictions of the particular airline, the type of aircraft, and the size of your pet. 

A challenge faced by many pet owners is shipping large pets to smaller cities or shipping pets internationally from small cities.  Sometimes there can even be issues when a small dog or cat needs to leave from a relatively remote location. 

This becomes a challenge as small cities often have regional (or non-international) airports using smaller aircraft, many of which are not pet friendly.  These planes tend to be regional jets, which are not only smaller, but also older and often do not have the proper holds (temperature controlled, pressurized, and oxygenated pet cargo holds) available on-board to transport your pets safely.  Happy Tails Travel is happy to arrange ground transportation to or from the airport to ensure that your pet is on a flight suitable for their safe and comfortable relocation needs.This is also relevant currently with many flight limitations in response to COVID-19.

Another challenge is international travel from a small city.  While your pet may be able to fly out of a smaller city, they will first have to fly to a larger, international airport within the country of origin.  In doing so, there is a good chance your pet will have to change airlines from a domestic to an international airline. This can incur additional costs, as two flight reservations are needed and your furry family member will require the assistance of an agent to help transfer them from one airline to the next.

When considering international pet relocation, it is also important to note that not all airports are able to accept pets for international check-in, even if it is an international airport.  For this reason, your pets may need to travel to an airport further away, to ensure that they can make their way to their final destination!

The last issue that can arise when it comes to pet travel is regarding the size of the pet or the required kennel.  Smaller aircraft have smaller pet cargo holds, which limit the size of pets that may travel on them.  If your feline or canine family members are very large, there is a good chance they will have to fly to and from large, international airports. We would then arrange ground transportation for the remainder of their journey.  It can be hard to tell whether a particular route will accommodate your pet. For this reason, it is helpful to use the services of a professional Pet Travel Agency such as Happy Tails Travel.  We have trained professionals who can arrange your pet’s travel by air with care to just about anywhere!

Please fill out our no obligation Pet Travel Form for more information and an estimate today!